The Chase Ink Business Cash® card offers some of the best cash back rewards for office-based businesses. Currently, it offers a $750 introductory bonus cash back reward when you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first three months after opening an account. This business credit card allows you to add employee cards at no additional cost, letting you set individual spending limits and monitor expenses.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
BEST FOR
Office-based businesses that want top cash back rewards
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
Pros
- Top rewards for office supply spending
- Introductory APR on purchases
- Cash sign-up bonus
Cons
- 0% APR doesn’t apply to balance transfers
- High balance transfer fee of 5%
- Designed mainly for office-oriented companies
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes. It provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the United States and abroad.
- Purchase protection: Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account per year.
- Extended warranty protection: Extends the time period of the US manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of 3 years or less.
How We Evaluate Cash Back Business Credit Cards
When grading cash back business credit cards like Chase Ink Business CashSM, we weigh ongoing rewards the heaviest. We rate introductory rewards as slightly less important, but they are still considered as the second-biggest factor in grading a card. We also take into account the annual fee, introductory and ongoing annual percentage rate (APR), and card benefits.
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Who Chase Ink Business Cash® Is Best For
- Office-based businesses: Business owners can earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services each account anniversary year.
- Businesses that need employee cards: With Chase Ink Business Cash®, you can add employee cards at no additional cost and set individual employee spending limits.
- Owners who own additional Chase credit cards: Chase allows you to transfer your Chase Ink Business CashSM rewards to other Chase personal or business credit cards within the Ultimate Rewards program to receive a higher redemption value when booking travel.
Chase Ink Business Cash® Fees
- Introductory annual percentage rate (APR): 0% APR for 12 months on purchases
- Ongoing APR: 13.24% to 19.24% variable, which will adjust with the prime rate
- Annual fee: None
- Balance transfer fee: Either 5% of the transfer amount or $5, whichever is greater
- Foreign transaction fee: 3% for purchases made outside the United States
- Cash advance fee: 5% of the advance or $15, whichever is greater
Chase Ink Business Cash® Rewards
- 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services each account anniversary year, then 1% afterward
- 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, then 1% afterward
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome offer: Earn a $750 bonus cash back when you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first three months after opening an account.
Chase Ink Business Cash® Additional Features
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
When you rent a car using your Chase business card, you and all authorized drivers under the rental agreement are protected from damages due to theft or accident. Coverage is primary if the vehicle rental is for business purposes, which means you won’t need to use your personal auto insurance or accept the insurance offered by the rental agency.
This covers rentals that don’t exceed 31 consecutive days. You will also be covered for reasonable and customary towing charges and loss-of-use charges incurred by the rental car company. You may receive reimbursement up to the cash value of the vehicle.
Purchase Protection
Chase may repair, replace, or reimburse damaged or stolen items purchased with your credit card within 120 days of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per year. Restrictions may apply, and some purchases may not be covered, such as the purchase of animals, living plants, computer software, collectible items, real estate, medical equipment, perishables, and pre-owned items.
Extended Warranty Protection
Chase will extend the original manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on warranties of three years or less, up to a maximum of $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account. You must have charged a portion of the purchase to your card or used reward points to make the purchase. Items not covered with this protection include computer software, medical equipment, real estate, pre-owned items, motorized vehicles, and items purchased for resale.
Travel & Emergency Assistance Services
Chase will provide travel, emergency, medical, and legal assistance 24 hours a day to the cardholder, their spouse, and dependent children aged 22 years or younger. As is the case with most small business credit cards, this is mostly a concierge service. The cardholder is responsible for the cost of any assistance.
Zero Liability & Fraud Protection
With zero liability protection, you won’t be held responsible for any unauthorized charges made with your card or account information. The bank also continuously monitors your account activity to check for any fraudulent transactions.
Pros & Cons Explained
Pros of Chase Ink Business Cash®
- Top rewards for office supply spending: With Chase Ink Business Cash®, businesses can earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent on office supplies and internet, cable, and phone services. This means you can save as much as $1,250 per year on these expenses.
- Introductory APR on purchases: Chase Ink Business Cash® offers 0% introductory APR for the first 12 months from when the account is opened. You can take advantage of this if your business needs to make a big purchase as you can pay the borrowed amount interest-free within 12 months. Just make sure to pay in full before the promo period ends.
- Cash sign-up bonus: If you can spend at least $7,500 in three months from opening an account, you will earn a $750 cash bonus—you can put this amount toward your business savings, or you can use it for other necessary expenses.
Cons of Chase Ink Business Cash®
- 0% APR doesn’t apply to balance transfers: It’s important to note that the introductory rate of 0% APR only applies to purchases and not to balance transfers. This may be an issue if your primary goal of getting a new business credit card is to transfer your balance from your old one.
- High balance transfer fee of 5%: Some cash back small business credit cards, like Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business, don’t charge any fee for balance transfers.
- Designed mainly for office-oriented companies: The Chase Ink Business Cash® is an excellent option for business owners who spend mostly on office supplies. However, businesses that operate online and don’t need office supplies, such as e-commerce, won’t be able to take advantage of the high cash back rate.
Chase Ink Business Cash® Alternatives
Chase Ink Business Preferred®
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
BEST FOR
Maximizing travel rewards at a lower annual fee
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Pros
- Opportunity to boost the value of reward points
- Offers cellphone protection and trip cancellation insurance
Cons
- Does not offer an interest-free financing period
- Charges an annual fee
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes. It provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the U.S. and abroad.
- Cellphone protection: You and the employees named on the phone bill you pay for with your card are covered for up to $600 in theft or damages per claim. You are limited to three claims per 12-month period, with a $100 deductible per claim.
- Trip cancellation and delay insurance: If your trip is canceled, you can be compensated up to $15,000 for prepaid expenses such as airfare or hotels. If your trip is delayed for 12 hours or more, you can be reimbursed up to $500 for your hotel room, meals, and transportation.
Chase Ink Business Preferred® is an excellent option if your business can spend at least $15,000 in purchases within the first three months of opening an account as it offers $1,000 cash back or $1,250 worth of travel rewards when you redeem your points through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
American Express Business Platinum Card®
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
BEST FOR
Gaining access to unrivaled travel rewards and luxury travel perks like airport lounge access
- Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Plus, 0% Intro APR for 12 months from the date of the account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time. After that, your APR will be 14.24% to 22.24% based on your credit worthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
- Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else. Cap applies.
- Unlock over $1,000 in value per year for statement credits on select purchases with your Card, including up to $400 with Dell Technologies, up to $360 with Indeed, up to $150 with Adobe and up to $120 on wireless telephone purchases. Enrollment required.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year toward baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
- $179 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $179 back per year on your CLEAR® membership.
- Access to more than 1,300 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting with The American Express Global Lounge Collection®. More lounge options than any other credit card on the market as of 8/2020.
- $595 Annual Fee ($695 if application is received on or after 01/13/2022).
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- Free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
- Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® membership fee reimbursements
Cons
- Balance is due in full monthly
- Steep $595 annual fee
- American Express lounges: Free access to American Express’ network of Centurion lounges located in slightly less than a dozen US airports.
- Other airport lounges: Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you free access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide for you and two guests.
- Airport screening: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry every 4 years or $85 statement credit for TSA Pre✓® once every 4 1/2 years.
- Travel credit: Up to $200 annual statement credit toward air travel expenses like baggage fees and inflight food and drink.
- Rental status: Elite status at a number of car rental agencies.
- Free Wi-Fi: 10 annual free Gogo inflight Wi-Fi passes.
- Rebate for redeemed points: 35% points rebate if you book a business or first-class flight, up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year.
- Dell statement credit: Up to $400 in statement credits annually for Dell purchases.
For frequent travelers, another good business credit card option to consider is the American Express Business Platinum Card®. You can earn 5x membership rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com. It also offers a $200 airline fee credit per calendar year for baggage fees and other eligible incidental expenses with a qualifying airline you choose.
Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business
Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business
BEST FOR
Earning unlimited 2% cash back
- Introductory reward worth $500 after you spend $4,500 within the first three months
- 2% cash back on every purchase
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No limit to the amount of rewards you can earn
- Lucrative welcome offer
Cons
- Lacks a 0% APR offer
- Annual fee is only waived for 12 months
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes. It provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the U.S. and abroad.
- Purchase protection: Covers your new purchases for up to 90 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim.
If you don’t want to keep track of spending categories, consider opening a Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business credit card. This small business credit card offers 2% cash back on all purchases regardless of category. There’s no limit to the number of rewards you can earn and you’ll be able to receive them as a check or an automatic credit on your monthly bill.
Bottom Line
The Chase Ink Business Cash® card charges no annual fee and is a perfect financing solution for office-based businesses that spend up to $25,000 on combined purchases at office supplies stores. It’s also an excellent option for those that need employee cards at no additional cost. If this is not the right card for you, compare these top credit cards to find one that’s a better fit for your business.
